Youngsters revel in feast of footy
HUNDREDS of junior footballers — boys and girls alike — enjoyed a feast of action as the first of their season finals coincided with Father’s Day in southern Tasmania.
Following increased female participation this season, the league decided to split the grand final action over two weekends.
STJFL executive officer Tony Gibson said participation this season had been unprecedented.
IT was glory for some but not all during yesterday’s Southern Tasmanian Junior Football League grand final showcase at North Hobart Oval.
The historic venue hosted four grand finals, with club colours and cheering parents as far as the eye could see.
The finals on show yesterday came from the under-13, under-16A2 and for the first time in the under-14 and under-17 girls divisions.
Clarence defeated North Hobart in the under-13s, but the Demons edged out Clarence in the under-16 showdown.
As for the girls, Sandy Bay overcame North Hobart in the under-14s while Claremont upset Kingborough in the under-17 match up.
Following increased female participation this season, the league decided to split the grand final action over two weekends.
It means a further four grand finals will be played this weekend in the under-12, under-14, under-16 and under-18 divisions.
There were also six preliminary finals played yesterday ahead of for this week’s grand
finals, taking the player count at North Hobart to about 450.
STJFL executive officer Tony Gibson said participation this season had been unprecedented.
“There have been seven grand finals split over two weekends before but never this many,” Mr Gibson said. “It’s the girls that have grown it this year.”
About 400 female players are registered with the STJFL as the competition looks to expand from three age groups to four.
Mr Gibson estimated about 1600 people came through the gates yesterday, on par with previous years.
“The under-16A grand final [between North Hobart and Clarence] went down to five points. Claremont beat Kingborough in the [under-17] girls too, which was a big upset as the Tigers were undefeated all season,” he said.
The second weekend of grand finals will be played on Sunday, again at North Hobart.
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